Olympics and World 3000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto is eyeing the Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Ndalat Gaa Cross Country title in Nandi slated for October 14.

Kipruto who won the Olympic and world water, hurdle and jump race at the Rio Olympic Games and Worlds in London by dethroning two times Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi will compete in the 12km race in ninth edition of Ndalat Gaa.

“I want to compete in the race competitively as i prepare for the new season. I dare other competitors to come and take on me,” said Kipruto.

Kipruto made his debut at the Ndalat Gaa Kids cross country in 2010 and was placed in fourth place in the 4km race before running in the 8km competition the following year where he was placed second.

Other athletes who horned their skills through Ndalat Gaa are former World and Olympics women’s marathon silver medalist Prisca Jeptoo who won in the first edition before moving on to be a world beater.

Olympic 1500m champion Faith Chepngetich who has won the event six times in a row, World junior bronze medalist Caroline Chepkoech among others were discovered through Ndalat Gaa.

The event, entering its ninth year, will be held at Ndalat Gaa Girls High School, inside the newly gazetted Ndalat Gaa pre-historic site was sponsored by Safaricom (Sh2 million), Nandi County Government, Kass Media Group, Skyward with air tickets for winners, New KCC, Kenya Seed, Kosigat Tea Estate’s Mama Chai brand and Mosop Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The 9th edition of Ndalat Gaa Cross country will be held on 15th October. The official launch was at the Athletics Kenya head office, Riadha House.

The race was the brain child of the late Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat which he started eight years ago.

Athletics Kenya Central Rift Chairman Abraham Mutai said “this year’s race is bigger than the previous races and the participants expected are more 5,000.”

The winners of senior races will get Kshs 40,000, veterans Kshs 15,000 but Mutai said all top 20 finishers will get something.

The race ambassador Olympic 3000m steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto said he will be part of the race because he is also the product of Ndalat Gaa. “My first cross country that I ever ran was here and am so proud to be associated with this great event.”

Nicodemus Kipkirui and Caroline Chepkoech will be defending the men and women crowns they took last year.

“We have partnered with Kimbilio Hospice who cares about the cancer patients and we are pleased to say that it’s the biggest cancer institution in Kenya and is based in Kipkaren near Webuye”, said Joel Sawe the CEO.

The president of Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei said that, “there are individuals who are holding athletics event without the AK certificate, we warn them and the sponsors who are part of these races to desist from the exercise and seek the office clearance.”

The race has been put into categories, 7- 12 years, 13 – 18 years, Senior Men and Women and the last category is the veterans.

The deputy governor of Nandi County Dominic Biwott said, “We are happy for this course that has given us an identity in the country.

We are committed to ensure that the event remains the most popular in the country and we will contribute 1.2 million towards the event, offer ambulance services and close all roads the race will use.”

The Nandi women representative Hon. Zipporah Kering also pledged Kshs 500,000 towards the event. She said athletics made her who she is today, “ through athletics I have grown the ladders and as you can see am a member of parliament” she said.

Change of Name

This is the last time the race will be called Ndalat Gaa cross country, we will change the name from next season to honor our Former Athletics Kenya President the late Isaac Kiplagat, said the Mutai.

Products of Ndalat Gaa

Ndalat Gaa cross Country has produced some of the finest athletes ruling the world they include, Eliud Kipchoge the London Marathon and Olympic Champion gold medalist, Stanley Biwott, Prisca Cheptoo,Agnes Tirop and Faith Chepngetich the Olympic 1500m gold Medalist who has won the 4k in four season consecutively